Gold from ores



PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS POR EXTRAGTING GOLD FROM DRES.

'Paten-ted ont. 12, 1,897.

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L. G. DAUMAS. PROCESS OP AND APPARATUS POB. EXTRAGTING GOLD PROM DRES.

No. 591,527. Patented 0013. 12,1897.

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(No Mougel.) y 1'0 sheets-,sheet 3. L. 0.1JAUMAS.

PROESS OF AND APPARATUS EXTRGTING GOLD FROM GRES.` N0. 591,527.

Patented Oct. 12, 1897.

{No.Mod'el) I v 1o sheets-sheet 4 "L. OQDAUMAS. PRCBSS OP AND APPARATUS POR BXTRYACTING GOLD PROM GRES.

No. 591,527. Patented Oct. 12,1897.

minnaars PETERS no. mo'rmnnmwmnafon n c (No Modem L. C. DAUMAS. PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS POR EXTRAGTING GOLD PROM oRBS.

No. 591,527. Patented Oct. 12,1897.

(Np Model.) 1o sheets-sheet 6.

L. C. DAUMAS. PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRAGIING GOLD PROM DRES.

Patented' OctflZ, *1897;

(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 7.

L. 0. MUMAS.V y PROCESS OP AND APPARATUS POREXTRAGTING GOLD PROM GRES.

No. 591,527. 'Patented oct. 12,1897;

(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 8.

L. C. DAUMAS. I PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS POR EXTRAGTING GOLD FROM GRES.

No. 591,527. Patenteaoct. 12,1897.

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L. GRDAUMAS.

PROCESSOR AND APPARATUS POR EXTRAGTING GGLD FROM oRRS. No. 591,527. Patented Oct. 12,1897.

(No Model.)

lO'Sheets-Sheet 10. 5 L. o. DAUMAS. PROCESSTOF' AND APPARATUS FOR EXTBACTING GOLD FROM ORBS.

l1\I0.591,527. Y Patented- UNITED A SrA'Tn-s i gPATENT Genion.

LOUIS CLMENT DAUMAS, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

" PROCESS oF AND APPARATUS PoR EXTRACT'ING GOLD iFfRoM oRES.

i SPECIFICATION forming part of vLetters Patent No. 591,527, ldated. October 12, v189'?. Application filed February 21, 1896. Serial No. 580,173. (No model.) Patented in France July 26, 1895, No. 249,204.

T al?, whom. it 11i/,ty concern.-

traction of Gold from Ores, (for which I have' obtained in France Letters Patent of fifteen years, dated July 26, 1895, No.'249,2 04,) of

whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to. a process for the extraction of gold from its ore, forming the subject of previous Letters Patent of the 'United States of America, No. 486,698; and it consists in certain improvements in the said process and in apparatus for carrying out the same in practice. 4

The-process described in the said former patent referred to consisted, essentially,in extracting the gold from its ore by heating the latter in presence of dry chlorin and'protochlorid of sulfur. The liquid holding the salt of gold in solution after being filtered was cooled, whereby double chlorid of gold and sulfur was thrown down in a solid form, which. double chlorid was then separated by a second filtration, slightly moistened with Water, and finally decomposed into sulfuric acid and gold in a pulverulent condition. This being understood the following is a description ofthe improved process'forrning v the subject of the present invention.

The `pulverized auriferous ore is mixed with protochlorid of sulfur which has been previously saturated at 8Oo centigrade With dry chlorin. By heating this mixture the gold is dissolved and forms a double chlorid of gold and sulfur. The liquid holding the gold in solution after ltration instead of being cooled as before is again heated to atemperature of about 138 centigrade for the purpose of dissociating the double chlorid of gold and sulfur bydecomposing it into chlorin', Which is evolved into chlorid of sulfur, which remains in the liquid, and into gold in a pulverulent condition, Which remains in suspension in theV liquid By means of a rsecond filtration the gold in powder is separated from the rliquid protochlorid of sulfur and is thus obtained chemically pure and ready to be cast into ingots. A

By means of the special arrangements of apparatus hereinafter described I am enabled to recover the whole of the chlorin as well as 'the whole of the protochlorid of sulfur employed. Y

My improved process thus consists, essentially, in heating in a container to a temperature of about 130o centigrade a previouslyroasted auriferous ore in presence of protochlorid of sulfur previously saturated with chlorin at a temperature higher than 80 centigrade. By this operation a double chlorid of gold and sulfur is formed, While a certain quant-ity of chlorin is evolved and conducted into a vessel containing protochlorid of sulfur, by which it is absorbed. The protochlorid of sulfur holding the double chlorid of gold and sulfur in solution is filtered inva receiver and subjected to a temperature of about 1380 centigrade for thepurpose of separating the salt of gold, which becomes completely decomposed, leaving a metallic Vresidue. This operation terminated, the whole of the chlorin which was Ycontained in the protochlorid of sulfur andthat Which entered into the formation of the auric chlorid has become entirely disengaged, the gas thus set at liberty being conducted into a receiver containing protochlorid of sulfur, by which it is entirely absorbed.

My process enables the whole ofthe chlorin to be recovered and'of thus regenerating the protochlorid of sulfur saturated With chlorin and even recovering the whole of the protochlorid of sulfur employed.

The system of apparatus by the combination and arrangement of which the process of my invention may be carried out in practice comprises, first, a receiver in which the reaction is effected, containing a filtering apparatus; second, a filter; third, adecomposing vessel; fourth, two filters provided with porous-clay cylinders; fifth, a filter provided With a filtering element of porous stone g sixth, a' vessel containing protochlorid of sulfur saturated or to be saturated with chlorin; seventh, an absorbing vessel of double the capacity of the last, containing protochlorid of sulfur non-saturated with chlorin.

'The series of apparatus is completed by a reservoir of compressed air which4 has been deprived of all moisture by an air-pump and a superheated steam-generator. The whole `of these apparatuses, which are connected by IOO means of pipes provided with suitable cocks, are made of cast-iron and protected from the corrosive action of chlorin by a lining of magnetic oxid, enamel, glass, fire-clay, or other substance or by electroplatingwith platinum.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation showing in an elementary manner the entire system of apparatus. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the attacking vessel in which the reaction is effected and its accessories. Fig. 2a is a sectional view of the filter and the lower part of the attacking vessel, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 represents part of the filter of the attacking vessel and the decomposing vessel in connecy Fig. 3ZL is an enlarged detail v tion therewith. sectional view of the float apparatus of the vessel p, hereinafter described. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the lower end of the cylindrical casing which surmounts the attacking and decomposing vessels, drawn to a larger scale, taken on line l 2 of Fig. 2. Fig.

5 is a vertical section of the upper end of the 5 said cylindrical casing with its safety-valve.

Fig. G is a horizontal section on line 3 4 of Fi. g

2, which shows the air-inlet pipe. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a manhole-cover in the side of the attacking vessel shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 8 shows the filtering apparatus provided with cylindrical filtering media and slabs of porous stone and also the vessel containing the protochlorid of sulfur non-saturated with chlorin. Fig. 8n is a transverse section through the filter r', on an enlarged scale. Fig. 9 shows the vessel containing the protochlorid of sulfur which has passed through the filters and also the compressed-air reservoir. Fig. .9 is an enlarged sectional view of the heads of vessels c and w. a section and plan of one of the cocks.

The same letters and numerals of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

The atlackingvessel a, Fig. 2, in which the reaction is effected, is made funnel-shaped and terminates at its lower part in a bend l), so as to bring the bottom of the vessel slightly toward one side. The vessel is closed at top by a cover c, provided with three openings, one serving for the introduction of the ore, being closed by a cover d, a second for the insertion of the casing c of a thermometer having a dial or other index-scale, while to the remaining opening is applied a cylindrical head f, furnished interiorly with a pipe g, closed at its upper end, which passes down within the vessel a and terminates in curved branches g of varying length, as shown in plan in Fig. G.

The upper end of pipe g is in communication with one ofthe openings made in the side of head f, which is provided with four cocks h h2 h3 h4. The cock 7L serves to put the interior of vessel a in communication with the external air through a U -shaped pipe 7L113,con

Figs. 10 and 1l show, respectively, f

taining chlorid of calcium. Cock h2 serves to connect the vessel with the reservoir of compressed air. Cock h3 serves to establish communication between the interior of pipe g and said reservoir, and cock h4 serves to connect the interior of vessel a with the receiver containing protochlorid of sulfur saturated with chlorin. The head f is also provided at its top with a safety-valve t', Fig. 5, to allow gases 'or air to escape through pipe j into the vessel containing protochlorid of sulfur saturated with chlorin. -Cock 71,5 serves to prevent the passage of the chlorin into the compressed-air reservoir when cocks h2 h3 are opened during the chlorination of the ore. The vessel a is inclosed in a steamjacket a. Seated in the vessel a is a castiron ring g2, against the under face of which is seated the upper plate of the filter 7.3, which comprises two circular plates which may be in the form of grids, as shown, connected together by studs and surrounded by a strip of platinized steel, the space between the plates being suitably filled with glass balls ks. The lower plate has a bent stem l, the lower end of which is bolted to a plate m, forming a cover, closing the orifice in the inclined bottom of vessel a, through which said stem projects. This cover m, which is secured by means of hinged bolts, is carried by an arm a, moving on a pivot n' and provided with a worm-wheel segment n.2, with which gears a worm n3, operated by a hand-wheel, the object being to guide the stem Z during the descent of the filter.

The vessel a also has two openings for the exit of the ore, closed, respectively, by covers d d2, Fig. '7. One outlet may, however, be sufficient. At the lower part of the vessel is a filter consisting of a conical casing open at each end and provided interiorly with two inclined perforated plates 7c', inclosing a layer of slag wool 7010. This filter is connected by a pipe o with the vessel p through a cock hf. (See Fig. 3.) The vessel p is cylindrical and inclosed by a steam-jacket p', with steam inlet and outlet. The vessel is closed bya cover 192, to which pipe 0 is connected, and with openings for inserting a thermometer c and float q for the attachment of the head f', similar to that of the reacting vessel a, having an air-pipe pl" similar to the air-pipe g of the attacking vessel a, and performing a similar function. The float q (sce Fig. 3) slides in guides q' and has a rod q2, which moves up IOO IIO

and down within a glass tube Q3 over the gradfer only in the number of porous-clay cylinders S which they contain. The filter 7", situated immediately beneath the ves-sel p, would contain, for example, eight or more hollow cylinders, while the filter r2 contains but one cylinder; but the number of cylinders in r' may be increased, as also the number of filters, with a View to expedite the operation. The last filter of the series would, however, in all cases contain but a single cylinder. The filters, which are placed at an angle of about forty-five degrees, are each formed of a cy-l lindrical cast-iron, provided with division-Y plates s', apertured to receive the porous elements, which are fixed therein hermetically by lead joints, the end covers being secured to the casingby flanged joints. There are thus two distinct compartments, the one around the hollow filtering-cylinder between plates s', through which compartment the liquid flows, and the other compartment communieating with the interior of the said 'filteringcylinders. The pipe o connects with the former of these compartments in filter r', and

the several filters are connected togetherby` pipes o2 03 under the control of cocks 718 719. The pipe o3 connects with a filter of different construction, represented in Fig. 8 and formed of two lconcave covers 15 r1, pivoted about a stud r and clamped together by hinged bolts. The upper cover r2 has an internal shoulder, against which a disk 1, of porous stone, is clamped by arms 11, projecting from a boss 11', which passes through a diaphragm of platinized steel 15, closing the aperture of the lower cover r4. rlheboss 11 has a threaded socket r6 to receive a thrust-screw r2.v v

From the several filters pipes o4 05 o, respectively controlled by cocks 7110 7111 7112, connect to pipe j, leading to the lower part of the vessel containing the non-saturated protochlorid of sulfur for conducting the filtrates thereto. The pipe j connects by pipes j2j5 with the heads ff of the vessels c1 and p and by pipe j with the bottom of the vessel fu, Fig. 9, containing the'proto'chlorid of sulthe passage of the rod of the ioat f2@ and for the attachment of a head-f2, fitted with two valves71137111(see Fig. 91) and a U -shaped airtube 71114, containing chlorid of calcium. The

lheads f2 and f5 of vessels 1; and w are chambered, so as to form three compartments A B C in each. (See Fig. 95.)- The .chamberA communicates at top with a pipe 07, leading to the compressed-air reservoir and at the bottom when valve 7121 or valve 7113 is open with chamber C, which is in turn in free communication with the vessel fu or 1u, the one or the other of which can thus be connected with the compressed-air reservoir-by opening valve 7121 or 7113.

The chamber B communicates with the exterior air by means of the U-shaped pipe 71117, and when valve 7121 or 7111 is open it also communicates with chamber C and consequently ing the non-saturated photochlorid of sulfur, the communicationwith the two vessels being controlled by valves 7115 7116, so thatv the vessel w, which is about double the capacity of vessel 1J, may be placed in communication either with the filters or with vessel v.

The vessel w is also surmounted by a head f2, (see Fig. 92,) having valves 7121 and an airtube 71117 containing chlorid of calcium for establishin g communication either with the compressed-ai r reservoir or with the external air, and is provided with a fioat fo, the floats of both 1U and 1; being similar to that of vessel 29. The compressed-air reservoir 0c, charged by the air-pump x', is connected with the heads f2 f3 of vessels o and w by pipe o7, with vessels p and c1 by pipes o8 and o9, and with the the filters 1" r2 by the pipes 010 and 011, respectively controlled by valves.

The special form of screw-down valve employed isshown in Figs. l0 and l1, and consists of a disk valve 7, closing against an annular seat l around a central orifice 4, leading to passage 2, the seat being surrounded by an annular groove 5, into which passage 3 opens by orifice 6. The valve '7 is carried-by a diaphragm Se, of pl-atinized steel, clamped .by its edges upon the valve-body by a cap 9, in which is mounted a screw l0, which works in a screw-socket '11, attached to diaphragm 8 and valve 7. a a

The general operation of the apparatus is as follows: The vessel 1J being filled with protochlorid saturated with chlorin and vessel w with non-saturated protochlorid the covers d d2 of vessel 01 areclosed andalso the valve 716 of thev filter, the pulverized and roasted ore introduced and the cover d closed and valve 71 opened,'as well as that for establishing communication with the vessel containing protochlorid of sulfur saturated with chlorin. In connecting this vessel with the compressed-air reservoir by opening valve 711S the liquid saturated with chlorinis forced into the reaction vessel c1 after having opened valves 7116 and 711. Then the lioat shows that the whole of the liquid has passed into said vessel, an equivalent quantity of protochlorid of sulfur is admitted into the vesselwhich has just been emptied by opening valve 7115, and when the floats show that this has been done .the valve 7115 is closed and IOO IIO

the valves 713 and'715 are opened to admit compressed air through the dip-pipe g, so as to impart a circular movement to the mass. After a few minutes the compressed air is shutoff, valves 715, 71', and 715 being closed. A current of steam' is introduced into the jacket c1' of vessel a, and when the thermometer shows that the temperature has attained centi grade the valve 714 is opened and the chlorin in excess discharged into the vessel e, (the valve 7t16beingleft open,) where it is absorbed bythe protoehlorid of sulfur.

Vhen the fioat indicates that the absorption of chlorin ceases to raise the level of the liquid in said vessel, the valve h1 is closed, valve 71,6 is opened, and afterward the valves h2, h3, and h5 are opened to admit compressed air, whereupon all lthe liquid contained in vessel a passes into the vessel p, during which operation valve 7t17 remains open.

lVhen the float shows that all the liquid holding gold in solution has filtered into the vessel p, the valve 7117 is closed and a current of superheated steam is circulated in the jacket 21', in order to raise the solution to the telnperature at which the dissociation of the double chlorid of gold and of sulfur is effectedviz., 138 centigrade. On this result being attained the valve 7t18 is opened to allow all the chlorin liberated at this temperature to escape (the valve h1 always remaining open) and pass into the vessel p, where it is absorbed by the protochlorid of sulfur, which has been already partially saturated with chlorin. This done, the valve 7t18 is closed and valves 7119 7L2O hl 7L15 7t10 h5 are opened to allow the compressed air to force the liquid into the first filter 1" and the greater part after having traversed the porous-stone tubes arrives in vessel w. When the liquid has traversed the porous-clay cylinders of filter 1 and has arrived in vessel tu, the valve 7t17 in the cover of vessel P is then opened, and through this valve and the U-shaped pipe 7t112 the compressed air contained in vessel P and filter 1" escapes into the atmosphere. The valve b21 in the head of vessel w is then opened, when the air compressed to three atmospheres enters vessel w, drives back the liquid contained in said vessel through the pipesjhj, and 04, (valves 7t15 7i10 being opened) aud thus arrives in filter r', which it fills, as there is no pressure in said filter to counterbalance the pressure of three atmospheres, at which the liquid enters said filter, inasmuch as this will have been previously emptied through the valve 7t17 and U-shaped air-tube 7L112. When filter o" is filled with liquid, (which is shown by the sinking of the float in vessel '10,) valves 7t10 and 7iI are closed and the valve b21 on the head of vessel w opened to allow the compressed air contained in said vessel to escape into the atmosphere through the air-tube 7L117. In order to force the liquid in filter yr' into filter @12,valve hs is opened, when on opening valve 7t22 the compressed air, arriving by pipe 010, exerts a pressure of three atmospheres upon the liquid contained in filter o", forces the liquid downward into the filter r2 and back into the vesselw, through the pipes o5, j, and j, the valves 71,11 and 7t15 having been previously opened. As the vessel w has been already, as before stated, emptied of the compressed air it contained by opening valve 7521 to allow the air to escape through the air-tube 71117, there is thus no pressure to counterbalance the pressure of three atmospheres with which the liquid is forced into vessel w.

If preferred, another method of forcing the liquid from filter r into filter r2 and thence into vessel w may be adopted, which consists in admitting compressed air (valve h5 being open,) through the valve h2o in the head of vessel P, which is opened, the valves 7t7 hf* l71,11 71,15 having been previously opened and valve 7L10 closed, when the compressed air entering vessel P forces the liquid which fills filter r into filter r2 and thence through the pipes o5, j, and j' into vessel w, which, as it is needless to remark, has been previously emptied of compressed air by opening the valve 71,24. The gold in powder which had remained upon the external surface of the filter-tubes is carried by the return-current thus produced into filter r2, the valves 7111 and 7i8 being opened. The liquid may now be sent in a reverse direction through filter r2 thus: Before establishing a return-current of liquid from vessel w to filter r2 the valves hs 7t7 are opened and also that of the head of vessel p 7L17 to allow of the escape into the atmosphere of the compressed air contained in filterl 112. This done, valve 71,21 on the head of vessel 1U is opened, when the compressed air will enter vessel w and force the liquid through the pipes j' and 05, valves 7L15 and 7111 being open, into the filter 112 and fill it, valve hs having been closed to prevent the liquid rising into the upper filter 9". As the filter r2 has been, as before stated, emptied of the compressed air which it contained, there will be no pressure to counter-balance that with which the liquid enters the filter. Once filter r2 is filled with liquid valve 7L11 is closed, and valve 7 11 in the head of vessel w opened to allow the compressed air contained in said vessel to escape. This being done, thel valves 71,9 7L12 71,15 and valve 7L23 are opened, whereupon the air compressed to three atmospheres exerts a pressure upon the liquid contained in filter r2 and forces it into filter r3, in traversing which the liquid deposits the gold held in suspension upon the horizontal .slab and then returns through pipes oG j j (the valves 7t12 and 7t15 having been previously opened) to the vessel w, which, as has been before stated,has been emptied of compressed air, valve 7514 being open, there being therefore no pressure at this point to counterbalance that by means of which the liquid is caused to enter vessel 1u.

If preferred, the liquid may be forced from filter r2 into filter r3 and thence into vessel w by admitting (valve h5 being open) compressed air at valve h20 on the head of vessel p, on opening which (the valves 7L7 ILS 7Lg k12 7L11 having been first opened and valves 7110 71,11 closed) the compressed air passing from vessel 11 into filter r2 will force the liquid which fills filter r2 into filter r3 and thence through pipes 06, j, and j into vessel w, which, it is unnecessary to add, has been emptied of the ICO IIO

compressed air by opening valve h. The gold in powder is carried by the liquid on to the upper surface of the horizontal filter-slab, by which it is retained,while the whole of the liquid passes into vessel w through valve hm. The covers r3 r3 of the filter r2 are then unbolted and the one cover is swung aside horizontally on its pivot r to allow of the removal of the goldin powder deposited upon the upper surface of the filter-slab. The

cover d2 is then opened to allow a portion of the pulverized ore to escape,after which filter lc is lowered, and when the filter has arrived in its lowest positionthe cover cZvis opened to allow the whole of the ore which is above the iter to be discharged.

It is to be understood that the entire'sys-A tem of apparatus may be made of any dimensions and that the arrangements and accessory parts may be modified without in any way affecting the principle of the invention.

I claim- Y 1. The herein-described process for the eX- 'traetion of gold from its ore, which consists in heating protochlorid of sulfur saturated with chlorin to a temperature of 80, mixing the pulverizedore with protochlorid of sulfur satura'ted'with the said chlorin at 80 centigrade; subjecting the mass to a temperature of about 130o centigrade so as to dissolve the gold and form a double chlorid of gold and sulfur; filtering and heating the filtrate to about 138 centigrade to decompose the double chlorid of gold and sulfur and obtain the gold in a pulverulent condition the gold being afterward separated. from theliquid by a second filtration; substantially as specified.

2. The apparatus for carrying out the herein-described process of extracting gold from its ore, consisting in the combination of an attacking vessel containing a filter; a filter beneath and-connected to the attacking vessel through which ilter the auriferous sointion is filtered; a decomposing vessel connected to the iilter in which the filtered auriferous liquid is received; two iilters for receiving the products of decomposition from the receiving vessel having cylindrical tubes of filters and the protochlorid-of-sulfur-containing vessel all operating substantially as described to extract gold from its ores, as set forth.

3. In a chlorination apparatus, the combination of a iilter, chlorinating-solution-containing vessels, of a hopper-shaped steamjacketed attacking vessel terminated .by a bend at the lower part so as to bring the mouth of the vessel toward one side and provided with a cover having apertures for the introduction of the ore and for the insertion of a thermometer,a cylindrical head providedwith valves which separately give passage to the gases, the compressed air and the protochlorid of sulfur saturated with chlorin, said vessel having at its lower part a iilter formed of two circular plates with iiltering material adapted to be raised and lowered by wormgear, as described.

The foregoing specification of my process of and apparatus for the extraction Yof gold from ores signed by me this 24th day of January,

LOUIS CLMENT DAUMAS.

Witnesses:

CLYDE SHROPSHIRE, ALBERT MOREAU.

'porous clay, and a single lter having a por- 

